How Midwest Games Is Changing Gaming Right Now!

How Midwest Games Is Changing Gaming Right Now!

Author: Spawn On Me LLC July 8, 2025 Duration: 1:26:17

In this episode of Spawn On Me, I sit down with Ben Kvalo, CEO of Midwest Games, to dive into what makes this new publishing label stand out in an ever-evolving industry. We explore the role of publishers in today’s market, the challenges indie developers face, and whether the gaming industry is oversaturated with too many titles.

Ben shares his thoughts on building sustainable careers for the next generation of developers, and the value of player feedback, and we discuss how platforms like Xbox Game Pass are impacting discoverability. If you’ve ever wondered how publishers make decisions, support studios, or think about the long game in gaming—this one’s for you.

Topics We Cover:

  • What makes Midwest Games different from traditional publishers

  • The growing difficulty of standing out in a crowded market

  • How publishers can better support marginalized and new devs

  • Are players giving developers helpful feedback?

  • The real benefits and challenges of Game Pass for studios

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with your crew on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.


For over a decade, Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams has been a vital voice in gaming conversations, long before such discussions entered the mainstream. Founded by Kahlief Adams in 2013, this award-winning podcast established itself as an essential space for exploring how video games intersect with race, diversity, and broader culture. Rather than focusing solely on reviews or news, the dialogue here digs into the people and perspectives that shape the industry. You’ll hear genuine, in-depth conversations with game developers, journalists, scholars, and other creators who are often left out of the typical narrative. These discussions have consistently helped to frame and advance critical conversations about representation and inclusion, examining both the art we play and the community that surrounds it. Tuning into this podcast means joining a long-running, thoughtful examination of gaming’s impact and its potential, guided by a host who has been at the forefront of this specific and necessary dialogue since its inception. The result is a consistently insightful listen that challenges assumptions and highlights voices that truly matter.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams: A Video Game Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Is This the Best RPG of the Decade? Fable Hands-Off Impressions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:03
Day 2 of Summer Game Fest 2026 was all about Xbox — and I got behind closed doors. In this recap I break down the Xbox showcase and the hands-off demos, including the game that stole the show for me: Fable.Playground Gam…
This Is What a Perfect Sequel Looks Like | Control: Resonant Hands-On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:43
At Summer Game Fest 2026 I got about 90 minutes hands-on with Control: Resonant — Remedy's return to the Control universe —, and I'm hyped.The big shift: it moves from gunplay to fast, melee-focused combat with real weap…
I Asked the NBA The Run Team Everything! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:32
This week on Spawn On Me, I land an exclusive sit-down with the team behind NBA The Run, the upcoming 3v3 arcade basketball game from Play by Play Studios. If you've been waiting for a true spiritual successor to NBA Str…
The Future of Gaming at Tribeca's 25th Anniversary with Casey Baron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:56
I sit down with Casey Baron, Senior Programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival's Games Program, for an exciting conversation about the newly announced 2026 Tribeca Festival Games Program.Casey shares his vision for the fes…
Matt Booty on the future of Xbox and Ball and Gun Game Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:39
On this episode, we talk about Xbox's Matt Booty's appearance on the Xbox Wire podcast — his discussion on the current state of their June showcase, Project Helix, and how teams are working together. I share my thoughts…